Circular knitting machine



March 19,1946". I -H. H. HOLMES CIRCULAR KNITTING MA CHINE Filed July 3, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1- Filed July 3, .1944 5' Sheets-She et :5

e U n I y MB Patented Mar. 19, 1946 UNITED STATES P'rr CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Application July 3, 1944, Serial No. 543,351 In Great Britain July 26, 1943 7 Claims.

This invention relates to circular knitting machines, and concerns, more particularly, machines of the characteristic type including coaxially superimposed needle cylinders and independently slidable double-ended needles operable by means of sliders for the purpose of producing plain, rib or purl stitches, or combinations thereof in any desired sequence, in knitted fabric or articles.

The invention is applicable primarily to machines adapted, as by rotary reciprocatory knitting, to produce pouches, such as heel and toe pouches, in the knitted fabric or articles, followed by a course, or courses, composed of or including stitches knitted by rib needles, as, for example, in the production of a rib top after a toe pouch in the manufacture of knitted half-hose, socks, and like articles. Owing to the presence of the pouch, tension is not applied uniformly to the knitted fabric, all round, by the conventional take-up mechanism, with the result that loops are liable to build up on the needles when knitting is resumed, and tucking, or damage to the fabric or/ and needles is likely to occur.

The invention is also intended for application principally to circular knitting machines of the characteristic type concerned equipped with patterning mechanism including independently operable thread supplying or engaging elements,

such for example as lap or wrap thread guides, or

reverse plating instruments associated with the rib cylinder component, or/and wherein a verse, dial or ring equipped with knocking-over bits, or other instrumentalities, is disposed in close proximity to the inner end of the rib cylinder for facilitating knocking-over of rib loops, or other purposes, so that by reason of the presence of vertical floats of the lap or wrap threads, or/and the close proximity of the said verge, dial or ring to the opposite cylinder, the space for the passage of pouches is restricted, with the result that the pouches tend to pucker in the restricted space.

Accordingly the invention is advantageously applicable to circular knitting machines of the characteristic superimposed needle cylinder type aforesaid employed in the manufacture of halfhose, three-quarter hose, socks and the like with rib tops, rib or plain leg and foot parts, and heel and toe pouches, automatically in continuous operation, wherein the aforesaid conditions apply, but is not to be regarded as limited in this resheet as it may be applied to other circular knitting machines of the independent slidable needle type, rib or plain.

Various expedients have heretofore been proposed or adopted for automatically applying tension to the work in conjunction with the conventional take-up mechanism, during or after the formation of a pouch, in order to compensate for the presence of the pouch and thus equalize the tension on the work, but it is not considered that these are or can be adapted for application to machines wherein space available is restricted as hereinbefore described.

The object of the present invention is to provide auxiliary fabric tensioning means, hereinafter referred to as pouch compensating mech:

anism, of a simple and compact form devised especially for use in a machine in which such conditions appertain,

The invention consists of a pouch compensating mechanism which includes essentiall a body with an element or elements for engagement with the pouch, or an immediately following portion of the knitted fabric, and arranged suchwise as to be capable of bodily movement laterally to bring the said element or elements into and out of engagement with the pouch or fabric, and, when in such engagement, to function under gravity or other force to apply tension to the fabric subsequently knitted.

The invention includes the provision of means for restoring the said body to and maintaining it in an inoperative position, together with means for effecting lateral outward movement of the body, on restoration to the inoperative position, in readiness for further action,

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and readily carried into practical effect, a particular illustrative embodiment thereof as applied to a seamless hosiery machineof the characteristic type hereinbefore referred to furnished with lap or wrap thread mechanism and with a verge ring or dial will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View of so much of the said machine as is necessary to illustrate the application thereto of the improved pouch compensating mechanism,

Figure 2 is an underside plan view of the verge ring or dial showinghow this is recessed to accommodate the pouch compensating device,

Figure 3 is a general perspective view of the pouch compensating device per se, and Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of part of Figure Figure 5 shows some of the connections between the supporting rod of the said pouch compensating device and the timing or controlling mechanism of the machine.

Like parts are designated by similar reference characters throughout the drawings.

Referring to Figures 1 and 4 it will be seen that the machine illustrated includes co-axially superimposed bottom or plain and top or rib needle cylinders I and 2 respectively, and independently slidable double-ended needles such as 3 operable by means of sliders, like that designatedby the numeral 4. The lap or wrap thread mechanism with which the machine is furnished includes a circular series of independent thread guides 5 extending generally in an axial direction with respect to the needle cylinders I and 2. The said lap or wrap thread mechanism may conveniently be of the general character described in the specification of prior United States Letters Patent No. 2,065,469, and it is accordingly considered unnecessary to describe it in greater detail here. The verge ring or dial 6 is located at the lower end of the top cylinder 2 within the series of thread guides 5 and carries a circular series of independent knockingover bits I.

In this embodiment, the pouch compensating mechanism comprises a device consisting of a weight 8 of cylindrical shape with a plate 9,

which is formed with a downwardly bent claw 9a, attached to it'at one end, by means of screws l0. This end of the weight is slightly bevelled to impart corresponding inclination to the plate 9 and claw 9a as shown more clearly in dot-anddash lines in Figures 1 and 4. The weight is longitudinally slotted at B'a and mounted on a supporting rod II with the plate 9 uppermost, and, lay-reason of the slot, can tilt or rock on the rod. Thus the complete devicewhich is shown to best advantage in Figure 3-is capable of bodily movement laterally on the rod II. The underside of the weight 8 is formed with a bifurcated lug 8b through which extends a fulcrum pin I2 fixed in the rod II. The weight is thus supported by and tilts or rocks on the said pin. The weight, moreover, is fitted with 24 arranged for operation by a cam 25 on the drum 26 of the existing timing or controlling mechanism of the machine. for action upon the upper end of the pouch compensating device is attached to a disc 28 fixed within the cylindrical carrier 29 for the thread guides 5 so that the cam extends downwards through and projects from a central hole 6a in the verge ring or dial 5. If desired, the cam may alternatively be formed on or attached to the verge ring or dial. The pouch compensating device 8 is disposed so that the claw 9a is directed .towards the centre of the group of needles on which heel and toe pouches are formed. The verge ring or dial is recessed underneath at 6b (see Figure 2) to accommodate the upper end of the device 8 and the claw lie when the device is in the inoperative position indicated in full lines clearly in Figure 4. The recess 6b is made suinciently large to enable the claw 9a initially to engage the fabric f (Figure 1) at a point nearest to the needles 3. In its inoperative position the device is tiltedtowards the needles as the result of contact of the weight 8 with the cam 21, and it is heldraisedby the supporting rod I I with the bottom of the weight supported on the fulcrum pin I2 in the rod, and with the stop bar l3 in the weight in contact with the rocking movement of the weight inwards is limited by the depth of the slot 8a. The upper portion of the weight is bevelled or chamfered off at 80 to clear internal parts within the lower cylinder I, such as the sinker cup l4 associated with the bed I5 carrying the customary inside sinkers I6. As shown in Figure 2, the supporting rod I I is rectangular in cross section to prevent the weight from turning thereon, and extends axially right through the needle cylinders I and 2 (see Figure l) Above the cylinders, the rod II passes through a correspondinglydimensioned rectangular opening formed in a plate P and is thereby guided to maintain the claw So at a point nearest to the heel or toe pouch being knitted. At the upper end, the rod II has secured thereto a collar I1 and a weight I8 between which is located a sleeve I9 provided with lateral projections I9a for engagement with slotted extremities 20a of a forked or bifurcated lever 20 which is fulcrumed at 2| and may conveniently be supported in a bracket (not shown) attached to the top plate 22 of the machine. The sleeve I9 is so formed as to permit of rotation of the rod II. Thelever 20 is, in turn, connected to a link 23 which, as will be seen in Figure 5, extends downwards to a lever rod to limit the outward tilting. When the rod II is caused to descend by the timing mechanism the weight 8 is released and thus falls to bring the claw 9a into contact with the appro-' priate portion of the fabric leaving the needles.

' The lever 28 with which the rod II is connected is designed to permit descent of the rod sufficient to enable the device to operate by the force of gravity to tension the fabric until the required number of courses are knitted following the formation of a pouch. Such courses may include rib and welt courses; and during the formation thereof plain loops may be pressed off to form ing it rocks to permit the claw 9a to follow the inside contour'of the sinker cup 14. On completion of the aforesaid courses the supportingrod I I is raised by the timing mechanism thus lifting the weight 8 and disengaging the claw 911 from the fabric. The lower portion of. the sinker cup-sleeve is bevelledat I ia as is also the associated nut 30 to enable the device to be returned to the approximately vertical position when being raised, if it tilts outwards after descent beyond the nut. This raising movement is continued until the weight is brought into contact with the cam 21 whereupon it is tilted outwards and assumes the aforesaid inoperative position. I 7 j The pouch compensating device can be easily removed from the machine by-detaching the supporting rod II from the rod 28'to which it is secured and lowering it through the bottom cylinder. It can, of course, be just as easily inserted. e r a i In addition to the advantage that the pouch compensating device is pre-eminently suitable for application to machines in which available space is restricted as hereinbefore described, the invention includes the further advantage that with a gravity actuated device constant tension A cam member 21 is applied to the fabric during the operation of the device.

WhatI claim then is:

1. In a circular knitting machine adapted to produce pouches in knitted fabric, pouch compensating mechanism comprising a weight hav ing thereon a claw arranged to enga e the work solely on the side thereof where a pouch is formed, a member whereby the said weight is releasably supported and upon which it is mounted for lateral movement bodily to position the fabric engaging claw for engagement with the fabric, a cam adapted for engagement with the Weight at appropriate times suchwise as to move the latter laterally and enable it to assume an outwardly tilted position clear of the fabric, and means for so actuating the aforesaid member as to release the Weight so that it falls freely to bring the claw into engagement with the work, and, thereafter, is free to follow the path of the work and is gravity actuated to apply tension to the said work.

2. In a circular knitting machine adapted to produce pouches in knitted fabric, pouch compensating mechanism comprising a longitudinally slotted weight of cylindrical shape with a plate which is formed with a downwardly bent claw attached to it at one end, said claw being arranged to engage the work on the side thereof where a pouch is formed, a rod upon which the weight is supportably mounted with the plate uppermost and so that by reason of the slot the weight is capable of lateral movement bodily to position the fabric engaging claw in readiness for engagement with the fabric, a cam adapted for engagement with the weight at appropriate times suchwise as to move the latter laterally and enable it to assume an outwardly tilted position clear of the fabric, and means for so actuating the aforesaid rod as to release the said weight so that it falls freely to bring the claw into engagement with the work, and, thereafter, is free to follow the path of the work and is gravity actuated to apply tension to the said work.

3. In a circular knitting machine adapted to produce pouches in knitted fabric, pouch compensating mechanism comprising a longitudinally slotted weight of cylindrical shape with a plate which is formed with a downwardly bent claw attached to it at one end, said claw being arranged to engage the work on the side thereof where a pouch is formed, a rod upon which the,

weight is fulcrumed with the plate uppermost and so that by reason of the longitudinal slot in the weight the latter has lateral movement bodily to position the fabric engaging claw in readiness for engagement with the fabric, a stop member in the slot to limit outward tilting movement of the said weight, a cam adapted for engagement with the weight at appropriate times suchwise as to move the latter laterally and enable it to assume the outwardly tilted position clear of the fabric, and means for so controlling the aforesaid rod that it operates automatically in timed relation with the formation of a pouch, suchwise that at the appropriate tim it is moved to release the Weight whereupon the latter falls and functions under gravity to apply tension to the said work and, after the formation of the pouch, the supporting rod is operated to restore the weight to its normal inoperative position thereby bringing it into contact with the cam which automatically tilts the weight outwards preparatory to repetition of the action in due course.

4. Pouch compensating mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the upper end of the weight is bevelled to impart corresponding inclination to the plate and claw.

5. In a seamless hosiery machine, in combination, coaxially superimposed top and bottom needle cylinders, independently slidable doubleended needles for operation in said cylinders,

,sliders for operating the needles, patterning mechanism including a carrier and a circular series of independently operable elements in said carrier for supplying thread to said needles, a

verge ring having therein a hole and located at the lower end of the top cylinder within the series of thread supplying elements, said verge ring carrying a circular series of independent verge bits, and pouch compensating mechanism comprising a weight having thereon a claw arranged to engage the work solely on the side thereof where a pouch is formed, a member whereby the said weight is releasably supported and upon which it is mounted for lateral movement bodily to position the fabric engaging claw in readiness for engagement with the fabric, a cam arranged for action upon the upper end of the weight at appropriate times suchwise as to move the latter laterally and enable it to assume an outwardly tilted position clear of the fabric, a part to which said cam is attached, said part being fixed within the carrier for the thread supplying elements so that the cam extends through the hole in the verge ring, and means for so controlling the aforesaid member that it operates automatically in timed relation with the formation of a pouch, suchwise that at the appropriate time it is moved to release the weight whereupon the latter falls and functions under gravity to apply tension to the said work and, after the formation of the pouch, the supporting member is operated to restore the weight to its normal inoperative position thereby bringing it into contact with the cam which automatically tilts the weight outwards preparatory to repetition of the action in due course.

6. In a seamless hosiery machine, in combination, co-axially superimposed top and bottom needle cylinders, independently slidable doubleended needles for operation in said cylinders, sliders for operating the needles, patterning mechanism including a circular series of independently operable elements for supplying thread to said needles, a verge ring located at the lower end of the top cylinder within the series of thread supplying elements and carrying a circular series of independent verge bits, the underside of the said verge ring being recessed, and pouch compensating mechanism comprising a slotted weight provided with a claw at one end, said claw being arranged to engage the work on the side thereof where a pouch is formed, a member upon which the weight is supportably mounted with the claw uppermost and so that by reason of the slot the Weight is capable of lateral movement bodily to position the fabric engaging part in readiness for engagement with the fabric, means adapted for engagement with the weight at appropriate times suchwise as to move the latter laterally and enable it to assume an outwardly tilted position clear of the fabric, and means for so actuating the aforesaid member as to release the said weight so that it falls freely to bring the claw into engagement with the work, is free to follow the path of the work and gravity actuated to apply tension to said work and, after the formation of the pouch, the supporting member is operated to restore the weight to its normal inoperative position thereby bringing it into contactwith the appropriate means which automatically tilts the weight so that it moves outwards in readiness-for further action, in which position" of the weight the claw thereon is accommodated within the recess in the verge ring.

'7. In a circular knitting machine adapted'to produce pouches in knitted fabric, pouch com pensating mechanism comprising a slotted weight provided with a part for engagement with the fabric on the side thereof where a pouch is formed, a member upon which the weight is supportably mounted suchwise that by reason of the HENRY HAROLD HOLMES. 

